Red Sox Minor Lines: Tzu-Wei Lin stays hot

Pawtucket W 10-2

Tzu-Wei Lin, SS: 3-6, 3 2B, 1 R, 1 RBI, 1 K

Aneury Tavarez, LF: 1-6, 1 HR, 1 R, 1 RBI, 1 K

Rusney Castillo, CF: 2-4, 1 BB, 2 R, 1 RBI, 1 K

Adam Lind, 1B: 3-5, 1 BB, 2 R, 2 RBI, 1 K

Sam Travis, DH: 1-4, 1 2B, 1 R, 1 K

Ivan De Jesus, 3B: 2-2, 2 BB, 1 RBI

Oscar Hernandez, C: 2-4, 1 2B, 1 BB, 2 R, 1 RBI, 1 K

I didn’t include it here, but the PawSox used two pitchers in this game, Josh Smith and Josh Smith. Josh Smith tossed six innings and got the win, then Josh Smith came in for a three-inning save. Josh Smith! Pawtucket has two Josh Smiths, is the bit we’re doing here. Anyway, it was a big day for the PawSox offense and Lin in particular is someone to watch. The infielder has been heating up a bit at the plate and the Red Sox could use any spark they can find on the big-league roster. It feels like he should be up instead of carrying an eight-man bullpen.

Portland L 3-12

Danny Mars, LF: 0-4, 2 K

Chad De La Guerra, SS: 0-4, 2 K

Josh Ockimey, 1B: 1-3, 1 HR, 1 BB, 1 R, 2 RBI, 1 K

Tate Matheny, CF: 1-4

Dedgar Jimenez: 4.2 IP, 7 H, 7 R, 0 BB, 5 K (100 pitches)

Trey Ball: 3.1 IP, 6 H, 5 R, 3 BB, 2 K (56 pitches)

Travis Lakins: 1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 1 K (13 pitches)

This game was pretty much entirely bad for the SeaDogs. The offense was quieted almost all night, and both Jimenez and Ball were awful in what has been mostly bad seasons for both. There are a couple positives to take away here. For one, Ockimey went deep for the tenth time this year as he continues to show the best in-game power of his professional career. On the mound, Lakins really looks like a weapon out of the bullpen and could very well be someone to watch for the major-league level later this year, though 2019 is more likely.

Lowell L 4-8

Jarren Duran, 2B: 1-3, 1 2B, 1 BB, 2 R

Cole Brannen, CF: 2-4, 2 R, 2 K

Kole Cottam, C: 2-4, 2 2B, 1 RBI, 1 K

Tyler Esplin, RF: 0-4, 3 K

Devlin Granberg, LF: 2-4, 1 RBI

Eduard Bazardo: 5 IP, 5 H, 6 R, 5 ER, 2 BB, 8 K (79 pitches)

Overall this was a rough game, but very early in Lowell’s season there are a few hitters to be at least mildly excited about. Brannen is number one, as there was some potential for him to fall off completely after an awful start in Greenville. He’s come back in Lowell, however, and while there’s still not much power he’s got a .381 OBP. Duran and Cottam are also showing some intriguing flashes soon after being drafted.

GCL W 4-1

Juan Carlos Abreu, LF: 3-5, 1 K

Jecorrah Arnold, 3B: 3-4, 1 HR, 1 BB, 2 R, 2 RBI

Keibert Petit, 0-2, 3 BB, 1 R, 2 K

We’re still waiting on Triston Casas’ debut down at the GCL, but the low-level team is playing well in the meantime. Arnold had a big game on Thursday as the undrafted free agent looks to improve upon a rough professional debut in 2017.

DSL 1 L 5-17

Ceddanne Rafaela, 3B: 1-4, 1 2B, 1 RBI, 2 K

Fabian Andrade, 1B: 2-4, 1 2B, 1 BB, 1 R, 1 RBI

DSL 2 G1 W 4-1

Ronaldo Pulgar, 2B: 2-4, 1 R, 1 RBI, 1 SB, 1 E

Danny Diaz, 3B: 1-3, 1 HR, 1 BB, 1 R, 2 RBI, 2 K

Andres Gari, C: 2-3, 1 K

Brayan Bello: 5 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 5 K

DSL 2 G2 L 1-6

Nelfy Abreu, CF: 0-4, 1 K

Danny Diaz, 3B: 1-3, 1 2B, 1 K

Diaz went deep once again for the DSL team, and while he hasn’t really gotten going in terms of average and on-base percentage, he is at least showing the raw power that made him so intriguing last summer. On the mound, Bello has been impressive through four starts with a 2.35 ERA and 18 strikeouts in 15 innings of work.

Player of the Day: Arnold had a big day for the GCL and was close here, but Tzu-Wei Lin had three doubles and that is almost always going to be enough for this fake award. As I said above, it’s probably time to give him a chance to provide a spark on the major-league roster, even if he is a bit redundant with Brock Holt.